How to dress as a non trad taking classes at a state university

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vitanuova

vitanuova

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This is probably a silly thread, but I don't know how I should dress as an adult non trad student taking undergrad science classes at a big state school.

Before I decided to go back to school and take prereqs for med school, I was a college instructor and generally dressed fairly professionally in order to distinguish myself for my students.
Now I find myself in class with 18 and 19 year olds and I don't know if I should try to blend in or if I should dress more appropriately for someone in her mid twenties.

How do all you other non trads who are taking undergrad classes dress while in classes or labs? Do you dress down? Do you try to blend in a little with the college kid crowd? Or do you dress more appropriately for your age (ie business casual or something nicer than jeans and a sweatshirt)
Thoughts?
 
There will be people in your classes wearing pajamas.

Wear what is comfortable for you. If it were me, I wouldn't go business casual. I'd wear casual, age-appropriate clothes. I think jeans and a nice sweater or blouse are fine. Jeans are definitely fine.
 
Dress however you want. The kids and faculty don't care. But you might want to avoid clothes and shoes you like if you're going to a chem/bio lab, and to consider how much walking you'll do on campus. I went to class straight from work quite a bit, but would have a change of shoes in my car. I'd also invest in a sturdy backpack if you don't have one (this is a topic discussed in the pre-med forums long ago if you search). You'll want it all the way through med school.
 
I dress up a little more than during undergrad - jeans, a button down or solid top, and flats are my staples. No pjs or sweats or t-shirts normally. I try to make a good impression on the instructors by keeping it professional and classy while still maintaining an individual sense of style.
 
I was still young enough to be able to blend in no matter what I wore. But, I definitely dressed for comfort over looks. Someone in their mid-twenties is not really out of place.

You shouldn't go out of your way to try to fit in (try to force it). No one's going to ask you about your outfit, unless you're going full business professional.
 
+1 to the "wear whatever you want" crowd, but if what you want is to blend in, please don't. 😉 Somehow it seems to me that someone trying to blend in sticks out worse than someone who dresses age/life stage-appropriately (which, depending on how old you are, should still match some portion of the undergrad demographic).
 
33 here. Buckle is my fav place to shop so I pretty much blend in. The instructors have no idea at first that I am "so much older" than the rest of the class. Dress to be comfortable. Class days are long. Impress them with what impressed you as an instructor. They care more about you being involved and interested in their class than what you wear.
 
People in their 20's don't dress THAT differently than 19 and 20 year olds. We just have a better evolved sense of style. Now that you're a student again, you're the same as everyone else. Nobody will view you any differently just because you're a couple years older. That's a good thing. Don't intentionally alienate yourself by forcing a pant-suit every day.

Remember, business casual isn't what we wear because it's age-appropriate. It's what we wear because it's workplace-appropriate. School isn't work.

Think about how would you dress once you're in med school, assuming there's no dress code.
 
This has been on my mind lately too. I'm in my second semester as a non-trad and while I don't want to seem unprofessional to my professors, being an undergrad at the age of 34 has made me more aware of my age than ever. I tend towards jeans, boots and a solid shirt or a sweater with an occasional roller derby t-shirt in the mix
 
Seriously, mid-20's asking how to dress in college? Never seen someone that age in college as an undergrad or instructor? Just wear whatever you want. Nobody cares.
 
TriagePreMed said:
Seriously, mid-20's asking how to dress in college? Never seen someone that age in college as an undergrad or instructor? Just wear whatever you want. Nobody cares.
Click to expand...


This, to a point.

I wore my workout clothes before class to motivate me to hit the gym after class. I got some annoying and shallow comments from my so-called non-trad peers.
 
n3xa said:
This, to a point.

I wore my workout clothes before class to motivate me to hit the gym after class. I got some annoying and shallow comments from my so-called non-trad peers.
Click to expand...

Comments from your peers, or comments from the instructional staff? Because if it's the former, I'd probably just smile blandly and start humming this.

For my part, I wear whatever I happen to have on when it's time to go to class. Sometimes this is a full suit with button-down and nice shoes. (I do come from work much of the time.) Sometimes this is a T-shirt with a witty saying, shorts, and knee-high socks. In any case, I agree that mid-20s is not old enough to begin worrying about "fitting in vs. standing out."
 
You can't go wrong with casual but age-appropriate. For me in my late 30s that meant jeans or khakis and a shirt or sweater.
 
TriagePreMed said:
Seriously, mid-20's asking how to dress in college? Never seen someone that age in college as an undergrad or instructor? Just wear whatever you want. Nobody cares.
Click to expand...
👍 this.

I mean I thought the OP was going to say 40 or 45...but mid 20's? ??
 
32 years old here. these days i roll in either suited down with expensive italian loafers (coming straight from the office unfortunately) or gym wear (if i have the time to change).

i have to say it kinda alienates me juuuust a bit from my classmates, but there are more than a few who are largely unfazed.

it's just clothing.
 
Ferneezy said:
32 years old here. these days i roll in either suited down with expensive italian loafers (coming straight from the office unfortunately) or gym wear (if i have the time to change).

i have to say it kinda alienates me juuuust a bit from my classmates, but there are more than a few who are largely unfazed.

it's just clothing.
Click to expand...

same here!
 
After 4 years teaching college, my only suggestion is to come to class fully clothed. No one, including the teacher, cares what you look like. It's a bit more distracting if there are boobs in my face. If you have interesting tattoos and piercings, I will probably notice. One guy had this big eyeball tattooed on his leg and I told him I felt like it was looking at me all class. 😛

The only thing I do care about? How you smell. Leave the cologne and perfume at home. Don't smoke before class. It makes the whole thing less awful for all concerned.
 
n3xa said:
This, to a point.

I wore my workout clothes before class to motivate me to hit the gym after class. I got some annoying and shallow comments from my so-called non-trad peers.
Click to expand...

Unless your workout gear was borrowed from Richard Simmons' closet, then you have some annoying and shallow peers. They'd be getting a verbal bitch-slap from me if they dared comment on my athletic gear.
 
Class - whatever is comfortable. Layers if you have funky HVAC like at our school.
Visit pts day - professional, but no tie. Take a stand.
Meet the Dean - bust out your Hugo Boss and french cuffs.
 
I'm 31, but people always are shocked when I say my age because I look 20... i'll take that

Test day I have my lucky oakland A's shirt... I never go "dressed up" that's just out of place and weird. Jeans, T-shirt, nikes.
 
An adult asking premeds on a forum how to dress. SDN is epic!
 
vitanuova said:
Before I decided to go back to school and take prereqs for med school, I was a college instructor and generally dressed fairly professionally in order to distinguish myself for my students.
Now I find myself in class with 18 and 19 year olds and I don't know if I should try to blend in or if I should dress more appropriately for someone in her mid twenties.
Click to expand...

You will enjoy not having to dress professionally anymore. I know I did. There are people at and older your age at my school and everyone dresses for comfort.
 
I find that the older students dress a lot better, compared to the young kids with their skinny jeans, or pajamas. I say dress nice, but also make sure what you wear is comfortable. I got with jeans and a nice long sleeve shirt/sweater/dress shirt.
 
TXKnight said:
👍 this.

I mean I thought the OP was going to say 40 or 45...but mid 20's? ??
Click to expand...
LOL So true. Aren't seniors usually 22 or 23? And wasn't there at least one masters/doctorate student in all these colleges she's been to that she can see how they dress? I'm really hoping this thread is trolling.
 
TriagePreMed said:
LOL So true. Aren't seniors usually 22 or 23? And wasn't there at least one masters/doctorate student in all these colleges she's been to that she can see how they dress? I'm really hoping this thread is trolling.
Click to expand...

22, assuming no interruptions or grade skips. And for what it's worth, I definitely had the fleeting thought of "do I dress like the undergrads?" when I went back to finish up my prereqs. Mostly because I liked toying with the idea of reinventing myself. /totallynotoldenoughtohaveamidlifecrisisyet
 
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